50 markka note

Finland, AD 1918

In 1860, the Finns, already self-governing
under Russian rule, were also granted their own currency, the
markka. This was a foretaste of the full independence that would
come in 1917 during the First World War, but throughout this period
Finnish currency always bore some emblem of Russian sovereignty -
the monogram of the reigning Tsar on the coins or the imperial coat
of arms on the notes. Finns were fond of their currency, and like
the other northern countries of Europe (Denmark, Sweden and
Britain) were rather more reluctant about joining the euro than
their southern
neighbours.

On the other
hand, Finns are among the lowest cash-users in Europe, being
addicted to plastic rather like the Britons, but unlike the Germans
who prefer cash and are comparatively infrequent users of credit
cards. This was predicted to make the immediate transition to the
euro easier in Finland than in other countries where larger
quantities of notes and coins were required for immediate use on 1
January.